Our Original Clients
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In the beginning...

During the summer of 1984, Hagerty Marine launched its innovative Agreed Value insurance policy for classic wooden boats. Thirty-eight of Hagerty’s original clients still insure with us. As part of our 25th Anniversary celebration, we will be shining the spotlight on those original 38 clients throughout 2009. Some of their stories are listed below, in no particular order.

Michael and Ann Matheson, of Mount Dora, Fla., and Murphy, N.C., are the owners of "Tradition," a 1929 38-foot Chris-Craft Commuter. They met the Hagertys at the Sanford (Fla.) Antique Boat Show and were immediately sold on their new insurance offering.

"The Hagertys were able to provide us with full coverage, reasonable rates and outstanding customer service, and we have had a great relationship ever since. Hagerty Marine Insurance has also played a large role in the growth of our hobby. Collectors will not put money into great boats unless there is quality insurance available to protect their investment. Hagerty has provided the assurance that has allowed antique boating to flourish."

Virginia Furth, together with her late husband Alan Furth, was one of Hagerty’s original Tahoe clients. She now resides in Oakland, Calif., and owns a 1985 Philbrick "Hoaloha II," which is insured with Hagerty. Virginia has filed two claims in the previous 25 years, and "Hagerty’s claims department took great care of me," she said.

Florence Heck-Buckman, of Tahoe City, Calif., has known the Hagerty family for years, so it was only natural that she entrust her classic wooden boat with Hagerty Marine.

Like many other classic boaters from the Tahoe area, Florence was good friends with the legendary Dick Clarke. And she got to know boat-building brothers George and Charlie Besotes, who built the 1959 18-foot Besotes ("Big Thunder") that she still owns.

"I have been a close friend of the Hagerty family since the days when the Besotes brothers were alive," Florence said. "Big Thunder was their favorite because I ordered her and watched her being built by flying to Stockton (Calif.) each week in my Cessna 182."

Jud and Jeanette Laws, of Lakemont, Ga., own Jud Laws Marine. They have insured four Garwoods with Hagerty Marine and have also insured classic cars through Hagerty.

The Laws met the Hagertys at the Muskoka show in Canada when the niche-market insurance product was still in development. They were so impressed with the Hagertys that they told them, "When you get the product running, call us." The rest is history.

Doug Elmore, of Sacramento, Calif., has always had fabulous classic boats. His 1929 28-foot Chris-Craft "Campainer" is insured with us, but one of Doug’s earlier boats, a 1926 33-foot Baby Gar, "Challenger," had quite a background.

Challenger was one the first 33-foot Baby Gars built for chewing gum magnate and Chicago Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley. Based on Gar Woods’ famous Baby Gar IV – which beat the express train from New York City to Albany in a much-publicized race – Challenger was powered by a 500hp Liberty V12. The beautifully-restored boat won Best of Show, Best of Class and many other awards over the years that Doug owned it.

Walter Weber, of Catskill, N.Y., was on the ACBS board and ran the club’s legal committee. He has insured a 1959 18-foot Lyman Islander "Trillium" with Hagerty for the past 10 years; previously he insured an Elco, "Spindrift II."

"I have to thank – or blame – Joe Fleming for getting me into antique boating and ACBS and introducing me to the Hagertys," Walter said. "The service from Hagerty Insurance has always been first rate."

Denny Anspach, of Sacramento, Calif., insures a number of classic boats with Hagerty, but his 1951 19½-foot Hackercraft "Zephyr" has been with us since the beginning. Denny said one of his old friends, the late Dick Clarke, was responsible for introducing him to the new Hagerty product.

"Dick said, ‘This in the only insurance for your boats – you should be onboard," he said. Denny obviously listened.

Gary and Ingrid Scherb, of Mount Dora, Fla., own Old Time Boat Company, a well-known wooden boat restoration shop. The couple has been insuring classic boats with Hagerty for a quarter century. The Scherbs have been involved with the Sunnyland (formally Mount Dora) Antique Boat Show in several capacities. Gary was the dockmaster for many years.

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